Radio Explorers: Wi-Fi Detective

TYPE: Short Activities
AUDIENCE: Ages 11 - Adult
TOPIC: Engineering and Technology
Learners explore how to manipulate the radio waves from a Wi-Fi router using household materials and an app to measure Wi-Fi signal strength.
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DESCRIPTION

In this activity, learners will experiment with different materials to interact with the radio waves coming from a household Wi-Fi router. Participants will be challenged to both decrease and increase Wi-Fi signal strength through the choice and position of materials. Through use of a mobile app to track Wi-Fi signal strength, participants will explore the concepts of reflection, absorption, and transmission of radio waves within the experimental setup. An optional extension to this activity will introduce the concept of polarization of radio waves and allow participants to observe differences in dual-band Wi-Fi router signals. 

Please note: This activity requires the installation of the Wi-Fi Detector app on an Android device. Link to the Google Play store provided below.

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  • An adult and a child holds a metal baking sheet above the antennae of a Wi-Fi router on a block of wood, placed on a table. Another child holds a shell of tinfoil around a block of wood placed apart from the first block.
  • A family holds paper bags and a plastic container top between a smartphone and a Wi-Fi router sitting on two blocks of wood.
  • A child holds a smart phone in between two blocks of wood, placed apart on on a table, while an adult looks on. The block of wood on the right holds a Wi-Fi router.
  • A family holds all their hands together in between a smartphone and a Wi-Fi router sitting on two blocks of wood, placed apart on a table.
  • A child holds a metal baking sheet flat on a table in between two adults. The adult on the left holds a smartphone and the adult on the right is adjust the antennae of a Wi-Fi router on a block of wood.
  • Making Waves WIFI detector activity at the Celebremos las ciencias!Let's Celebrate Science at the Museum of Life and Science Durham This event is part of the NC Science Festival credit Guillermo Delgado for NISE Network
  • An adult and a child holds a metal baking sheet above the antennae of a Wi-Fi router on a block of wood, placed on a table. Another child holds a shell of tinfoil around a block of wood placed apart from the first block.
  • A family holds paper bags and a plastic container top between a smartphone and a Wi-Fi router sitting on two blocks of wood.
  • A child holds a smart phone in between two blocks of wood, placed apart on on a table, while an adult looks on. The block of wood on the right holds a Wi-Fi router.
  • A family holds all their hands together in between a smartphone and a Wi-Fi router sitting on two blocks of wood, placed apart on a table.
  • A child holds a metal baking sheet flat on a table in between two adults. The adult on the left holds a smartphone and the adult on the right is adjust the antennae of a Wi-Fi router on a block of wood.
  • Making Waves WIFI detector activity at the Celebremos las ciencias!Let's Celebrate Science at the Museum of Life and Science Durham This event is part of the NC Science Festival credit Guillermo Delgado for NISE Network

DESCRIPTION

In this activity, learners will experiment with different materials to interact with the radio waves coming from a household Wi-Fi router. Participants will be challenged to both decrease and increase Wi-Fi signal strength through the choice and position of materials. Through use of a mobile app to track Wi-Fi signal strength, participants will explore the concepts of reflection, absorption, and transmission of radio waves within the experimental setup. An optional extension to this activity will introduce the concept of polarization of radio waves and allow participants to observe differences in dual-band Wi-Fi router signals. 

Please note: This activity requires the installation of the Wi-Fi Detector app on an Android device. Link to the Google Play store provided below.

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TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

LEARNING GOALS

  • Radio waves are invisible and all around us.

  • Radio waves transfer energy that can be reflected or absorbed, or pass through materials.

  • Different devices use different radio frequencies.

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TYPE:
Educational Resources
AUDIENCE:
Ages 11 - Adult
LANGUAGES:
English Spanish
ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Engineering and Technology Engineering Technology Physical Sciences Energy
KIT: Making Waves with radio color logo JPG Browse kit
KEYWORDS:

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2023
PROJECT
OWNING INSTITUTION

BSCS Science Learning

FUNDING

Developed with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Number 2053160. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.